Matrix-setting and line-casting machine



May 22, 1928.

K. ROGER MATRIX SETTING AND LINE CASTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1927 1 L 1 l l INVI'NTOR l I l l .I

TIT

Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED STATES KARL noonn, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

MATRIX-SETTING AND LINE-CASTING MACHINE;

. Application filed December 5, 1927, Serial No. 237,942, and in Germany January 22, 1925.

This invention is for improvements in matrix-setting and line-castingmachines and relates to means whereby matrices at a dissimilar level in a line of matrices are brought to a similar level during their progress through the machine.

The invention is particularly applicable to matrix-setting and line-casting machines of the type wherein matrices are accommodated in a casting-carriage at dilferentlevels by means of the ears of the matrices co-operat ing with a number of parallel slots at different vertical levels in the casting-carriage, and wherein the casting-carriage at its outermost position from the mould is located horizontally opposite the lowermost position of an elevator. The second elevator is arranged to accommodate the matrices at a single level and transfer them to the distributor.

It is known to provide devicesfor transferring the matrices from the-casting-carriage to the elevator, whereby the matrices are brought to a single level. In these known devices the lower matrices are placed jammed when passing over these slots, with rapid wear as the result. Endeavours to avoid steepness led to unduly long slots which unnecessarily increased the dimensions of the machine.

According to this invention there is provided in or for a matrix-setting and linecasting machine a matrix aligning device through which the matrices are traversed from a number of tracks (e. g. parallel tracks) comprising a guideway having va number of guide slots therein corresponding to the number of tracks, which slots are so spaced apart at one end of the guideway asto co-operate with the tracks and converge together at or towards the other end of the guideway at a junction point intermediate of, preferably midway between the outer:

most lines along which the matrices travel when leaving the said tracks. In a matrixsetting and line-casting machine of the type referred to, the aligning device may be disposed between the uppermost position of the casting-carriage and the lowermost po' sition of the elevator and the guide slots are spaced apart at that end of the aligning device which is nearer the casting-carriage so as to be atsimilar levelsto the slots in the casting-carriage. In this arrangement,

the guide slots may converge together at or towards the other end of the aligning device so that the junctionpoint is at a level substantially midway of the uppermost slots in the casting-carriage.

The lowermost position of the elevator is arranged so that the matrix carrying member thereof is located horizontally opposite the said junctionpoint. It :will be appreciated that with this arrangement the matrices at a higher level will move down wards and the matrices at a lower level will move upwards and all the matrices are transferred to an elevator at a level between the lower and upper levels in the casting-carriage. With this arrangement the maximum inclination of the guideways is considerably less than when the matrices are conveyed either to the highest or lowest levels. The following is a description of two'constr'uctions according to this invention, one of which may be used for two-letter matrices and the other may be used for three-letter matrices.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows the casting-carriage in its uppermost position, the elevator in its lowermost position and the aligning device between these two parts. 1

Figure 2 shows the matrices and spacer bars on their way through the aligningdevice for the two-letter matrices.

Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line AB of Figure 2, and f a Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration'of the aligning device for the three-letter matrices.

The casting-carriage 1 is provided with four horizontal parallel slots 2, 3, 2 and 3' for engaging the upper and lower ears of the matrices. The distance between the slots 2 and 3 or between 2 and 3f corresponds, as is usual, to the distance between the two letters or intagliov representation:

clined slots 9 3 and 2,

on the edge of the matrix. .The elevator 4 which transfers the matrices to the distributor has a single slot 5 which engages the upper ears of the matrices.

A plate member 6 which constitutes the aligning device is secured to the frame of the machinebetween the uppermost position of the casting-carriage and the lowermost position of the second elevator. The said plate member comprises two plates vertically disposed and. having their faces spaced apart parallel and opposed to one another. Each plate has formed on its inner face in- 3, which at the casting-carriage side of the plate are spaced apart so as to be at the same level as the corresponding slots in the casting carriage. The slots 2', 3" converge together into a single slot 5* which is arranged at an intermediate level to the slots 2 and 3. The Slots 2 and 3 converge together into a single slot 5 which is at a level intermediate of 2* and 3.

When the casting-carriage reaches its uppermost level, Figures 1 and 2, the line of matrices is transferred from the carriage to the elevator through the stationary plate member 6. The upper and lower ears of the matrices leave the slots 2, 8 and 2*, 3 and pass into the inclined slots 2", 3" and 2 3 01" the plate member 6, whereby the matrices are brought to a single levehat which level the upper ears are guided into the slot 5 of the elevator. Figure 4: shows a casting-carriage arranged for accommodating three-letter matrices and the arrangement of slots in. the aligning device for bringing the matrices to a single intermediate level.

I claim l. A matrix aligning device for use in a matrix-setting and line-casting machine having a number of tracks along any of which each matrixmay be traversed, which aligning device is to be arranged in line with the tracks and comprises a guide'way having a plurality of guide slots corresponding in number to the number of tracks, and so spaced apart at one end of the guideway as to constitute extensions of the tracks, which s'lots converge together towards the other end oi the guideway at a junction point. situated intermediate of the outermost lines along which the matrices travel when leaving the said tracks.

2. In a matrix-setting and line-casting machine having a number of tracks along tion of the casting-carriage of the machine and the lowermost position of the elevator, and having a number of guide slots spaced apart at that end of the aligning device which is nearer the casting-carriage so as to be at similar levels to the slots, in the casting-carriage, which guide-slots so con verge together towards the other end of the aligning device that the junction point is at a level substantially midway between the outermost slots in the casting-carriage, a matrix carrying member of which elevator is located horizontally opposite said junction point when the elevator is in its lowest position. 1

3. A matrix aligning device for use in a matrix-setting and line-casting machine having a number of tracks along any of which each matrix may be traversed, which aligning device comprises two vertical plates spaced apart, situated parallel and opposed to one another, and having a set of slots formed in. each of the opposed faces, which slots in each face are so spaced apart at one end of the face as to c0nsti-' tute extensions of the tracks and converge together towards the other end of the face at a junction point intermediate of the outermost lines along which the matrices travel 7 when leaving the said tracks.

'4. A matrix aligning device for use in a matrix-setting and line-casting machine having a number of tracks along any of which each matrix may be traversed, which aligning device is to be arranged in line with the tracks comprises a guidcway having two sets of guide slots so spaced apart that one set will co-opcratc with the upper ears of each matrix and the other set with the lower ears "of each matrix, the guide slots in each. set being so spaced apart at one end of the guideway as to constitute extensions of the tracks and converge together towards the other end of the guideway at a junction point intermediateof the outermost lines along which the matrices travel when leaving the said tracks.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 

